David Walliams: Comedy star who became Britain’s top selling author

THROUGHOUT his career David Walliams has been capable of springing a surprise. Just when we had pigeonholed him as a fine comedian, after bursting on to the scene with the irreverent sketch show Little Britain, he showed us he was a very talented writer.

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David sold more books than JK Rowling, Dan Brown and all the TV chefs last year

It’s actually a big responsibility that children are picking up your books. I’m often inspired by someone in real life

David Walliams

Walliams had a head start because he was already famous but proved he was no one-hit-wonder with his follow-up, Mr Stink, about a girl who takes a tramp home.

Both works were illustrated by Quentin Blake.

He now has 12 titles to his name including Ratburger, Billionaire Boy and his latest offering Bad Dad, while there have been several successful TV adaptations.

Walliams’ books are set in the real world of scary schools, corner shops with funny owners and have a scattering of gross toilet humour.

Any parent will testify that if there’s one thing bound to appeal to children of a certain age it is bodily functions.

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David spoke at a BFI Southbank preview of 'Ratburger', Sky 1's TV adaptation of his book

What started out as a sideline now overshadows his entertainment work, including judging on Britain’s Got Talent, but he never envisaged how this aspect of his career would take off so spectacularly.

His books have been translated into 50 different languages and he now considers being an author his main job.

“I never really wanted to be a writer,” admits Walliams who grew up in Banstead, Surrey, and changed his name from Williams.

“I just wanted to be on television doing comedy. I thought I would write just one or two books, almost selfishly just for myself but I find writing so rewarding.

“You are starting with a blank page and the only limit is your imagination. It’s actually a big responsibility that children are picking up your books. I’m often inspired by someone in real life.”

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David pictured with BFI programmer Justin Johnson

He has revealed that one of his characters, Burt in Ratburger, is based on a BGT contestant who ate live cockroaches from a bag.

It takes about four months to write each book and he will make a few notes as he goes along for the current illustrator Tony Ross, who took over because Blake couldn’t keep pace with Walliams’ prolific output.

“I enjoy writing for kids,” adds Walliams whose first writing job was for The Ant & Dec Show, before his comedy breakthrough with Matt Lucas on Little Britain in 2003.

“The characters in my books aren’t that far removed from those I used to come up with for Little Britain, which were meant to be for adults but were popular with children as well. That’s why it surprises me when people sometimes question if I’ve actually written the books.”

While Walliams has shown a Midas touch throughout his broadcasting and writing career, the same can’t be said of his private life, which is chequered to say the least.

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David's marriage to Dutch supermodel Lara Stone ended in 2015 after five years

His five-year marriage to Dutch supermodel Lara Stone ended in 2015 and they have a four-year-old son, Alfred. Since then he has played the field.

He has been linked to singer Natalie Imbruglia, Made In Chelsea’s Ashley James, film star Kate Beckinsale and Playboy model Emily Agnes.

Most recently he was seen out on the town with former Miss Norway contender Sylvia Flote, 34.

Now, if the reports are to be taken with anything other than a pinch of salt, he is dating a 20-year-old glamour model who is less than half his age and has a fondness for posting revealing pictures of herself online.

It might all seem like harmless fun but Walliams, who suffers from depression which has “blighted” his life, has spoken in the past of struggling to be alone when he was starting out in comedy.

“Living without love or affection was becoming more and more unbearable,” he wrote in his autobiography, called Camp David.

“Every day the self-loathing would grow. Death seemed the only answer.”

In fact, the only time he enjoys being alone with his thoughts is when he is writing.

David Walliams' funniest moments

Thu, March 2, 2017

David Walliams seems to be a comedian off screen as well as on screen as proven by these funniest moments.